There are two types, of reinforcement which are positive and negative are given below:
(i) Positive Reinforcement: Reinforcement is any operation or action that increases the rate of response. In Skinner’s experiment the rat responded by pressing the lever and
obtained food. This is called positive reinforcement. So, a positive reinforcement or reward (e.g., food, sexual pleasure, etc.) is the operation that increases the strength of a specific
behaviour. Positive reinforcement is any stimulus that strengthens a response that precedes it (e.g., lever pressing is reinforced by food).
(ii) Negative Reinforcement: Another quite different way of increasing the rate of response is through negative reinforcement. Suppose that in the Skinner Box the rat receives electric shock to the feet every second. When the rat presses the lever, the shock is removed for 10 secs. This increases the rate of response. This procedure is called negative reinforcement which involves application of an aversive stimulus (e.g. heat, electric shock, scudding etc.). The word “negative” refers to the nature of the reinforcer (aversive stimulus). It is a“reinforcement” because it increases the rate of response. This procedure is called “escape”learning because the rat can escape the shock if it presses the lever. Another kind of negative reinforcement can result in conditioning called “avoidance” learning where the rat can avoid the shock by pressing the lever. In escape or avoidance learning the reinforcer is negative and the organism learns to escape or avoid its presence.
The role of reinforcement in operant Conditioning are:
(i) Operant Conditioning: Modification of Behaviour through Reinforcement. If a child completes the home work she is praised (rewarded) by the parents and the child learns to perform the task. If the child breaks a plate, he/she is scolded (punished) and she will learn not to repeat the behaviour. This is called Operant Conditioning or instrumental
conditioning. In other words, we learn to perform behaviours that produce positive outcomes and avoid behaviours that yield negative outcomes. We may define operant conditioning as a process through which organisms learn to repeat behaviours that produce positive outcomes or avoid or escape from the negative outcomes. B.F. Skinner is considered as the most influential psychologist advocating the role of operant conditioning in learning. He developed an experimental chamber (called Skinner Box) to study the learning process in rats.
(ii) Classical Conditioning: Learning through Association
Classical conditioning is also known as Pavolovian conditioning because it was discovered by a Russian scientist Ivan P. Pavlov who was interested in studying stimulus-response
relationship. He worked with dogs. The animal was harnessed and food was presented to the dog by a laboratory assistant. Pavlov realised that the salivary response had been learned by the dog. He proceeded to study this type of learning in detail.
